Reviews

Forever My Heart is my favorite kind of love story. There are no easy answers for Alifair Brooks and Harrison Haywood. When she’s the victim of a brutal rape, she believes she’s worthless, beyond repair, and unable to be the wife Harrison deserves. She runs–a decision that’s understandable and painfully poignant to the reader. She leaves because she loves Harrison , and she believes she’s acting in his best interest. Harrison doesn’t agree–not at all. His love for Alifair and her young son is deep and true. No spoilers, but the choices he makes often put a tear in my eye. This good man modeled the finest kind of love for a woman determined to push him away. It’s not easy to write about a subject as violent and intimate as rape. This is where Forever My Heart absolutely shines. Awful things happen during war, and Alifair was an innocent victim of a terrible crime. The assault itself is written with tremendous sensitivity. That sensitivity lays the groundwork for a compassionate story that cuts to the heart, inspires faith, and stands as a tribute to love casting out fear. (Victoria Bylin)

Judy Gerlach had proven her ability to write historical fiction in the first two books of her Cheapside Trilogy. In the third book of the series, Forever My Heart, she once again proves her ability when she delves into the emotional world of love and healing after sexual assault. Set in Civil War era Kentucky, the author skillfully, and in a manner suitable for almost every reader, tells the story of a woman who is raped. The young woman’s internal struggles affect her and every member of her inner circle. Throughout the story, the reader can feel the pain, heartache, helplessness, humor, and even the ultimate joy experienced by the characters. This obviously well researched book provides a very real experience for the reader. And the ending is perfect! (Amy)

A vast array of emotions as one journeys with the different scenarios of the characters. [The author] did an excellent job addressing how a woman would feel after being raped, particularly in the 1860’s. My favorite one in the three book series. (Pamela Mayor)

Forever My Heart, the third book in the Cheapside collection written by Judy McCoy Gerlach was a great book to read. The characters in Forever My Heart were also in her first two books; Ransom My Heart and Shelter My Heart. She makes you feel like they are real people and even people you may have known. Alifair and Harrison faced some of the same challenges many people currently live with including hatred, war, being a single parent and assault. They were able to overcome these challenges with the true love they had for each other. I recommend if you haven’t read her first two books you do so and if you have read them make sure to read the third one. (Diane V.)

I could not put this book down!! I feel, by far this was Judy Gerlach’s strongest writing. Because I “knew” the characters (another great strength of this author), I was immediately drawn into the story. Her treatment of the rape was so gritty that I could feel that scoundrel’s touch and smell his stench-yet it was not graphic or explicitly detailed. For me, authors that let the reader use his/her own imagination are the most effective in developing that element of the story. The roller coaster of Alifair’s emotions made me want to hug her and give her a good shake!! Well done!!! (Jan Kasten)

If you are looking for a great book to read I highly recommend “Forever My Heart” by Judy Gerlach. You will not be able to put it down. It is the third book in a series. I am looking forward to her next book. Great work!! (Debbie Back)

It’s such a great story and it had the perfect ending. It just ended too soon for me. (Julie Goldcamp)

I enjoyed Forever My Heart. I really liked the emphasis the author put on the rape. It seems like it would destroy you from the inside. I think it’s very important for people to realize what it does to a person. I know if it happened to me that I would never feel clean again. I was glad that Alifair and Harrison had a happy ending because they truly loved each other. I liked all Judy Gerlach’s books; I couldn’t pick a favorite. (Elizabeth Wolfe)